Characteristics of Elateriospermum tapos seed oil as a new source of oilseed

The lipid fraction of local perah (Elateriospermum tapos) seed were extracted and analyzed for their chemical and physical properties such as acid value, percentage free fatty acids (% FFA), iodine value, peroxide value and saponification value as well as viscosity, refractive index and color. The fatty acid composition of the extracted lipid was revealed using the gas chromatography (GC) method. Both oleic acid (34.55%) and linoleic acid (31.76%) were detected as the dominant fatty acids while palmitic acid and stearic acid were the saturated fatty acids found in the perah seed oil. Unlike most seed oils, perah seed oil appeared to be containing alpha-linoleneic acid (16.10%) as part of five major fatty acids in the lipid fraction. Monounsaturated triacylglycerol (TAG), PPL and polyunsaturated TAGs of LnOO and PLL were the major TAGs found in perah seed oil. Outcome from analyses showed the prospective of perah seed oil as a nutritive seed oil to be developed in the future. (C) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.